Beer: Ratings & Reviews

I really liked this beer. A great example of the style. Looks just like it should, feels just like it should, easy drinking (despite its strength). Nose is grassy and floral, with some nice lemony notes. Spicy too. Refreshing, I liked it a lot. Flavor is more standard as far as tripels go. Nice combo of malts, yeast, and spices to give an overall great beer. Very clean and well-done.

Pours a yellow gold color that's slightly hazy, but remarkably transparent for the style. Quite clear, almost like a lager. Half-inch thick whitish head that recedes quickly. Leaves some runny, soapy lacing. Yeast particles can be seen suspended in the liquid. Smell is full of malty sweetness, with typical banana and other fruity esters wafting about. Little bit of citrus as well as a kind of earthy breadiness.

Initial sip yields some of that chewy breadiness I was expecting given the nose. Sweetish malts with nuanced spiciness make up the backbone. Some banana and citrus too. Bitterness is non-existent as there is no hop presence whatsoever. Alcohol shows up just slightly at the end and only after the beer is left to warm for a little while. The entire flavor experience is very clean, very crisp and the mouthfeel reflects that. Mild chewiness along with quite a bit of prickly carbonation give this brew a brisk character that's pretty refreshing.

Drinkability is very good. It's got a sweet and tasty bouquet of scents and flavors, a crisp mouthfeel and just about no alcohol or bitterness in the taste, making it something that is easily and readily quaffable. I've yet to meet a tripel I haven't enjoyed, and this offering from Bosteels isn't changing that anytime soon.

We pour from our 750 mL corked bottle, giving us a highly carbonated-looking and somewhat hazy brew of a pale golden color. It holds a snow white head of two and a half fingers, which takes forever to die down. Once it finally begins to depart (which it never does completely), there is thick, bubble bath-like lacing stuck around the chalice. Of note, the last few glasses of the bottle produce an even murkier pour, with gritty yeast bits darting around the bottom of the glass. The aroma is composed of some spice, including clove and ginger, esters, faint vanilla bean, and citric orange to balance its contributory 3-grain bill. The taste follows quite closely to the aroma. The front is predominantly grainy, with wheat as the spokesperson. The middle continues with fully apparent, but appropriately subdued, spice. The citrus notes from the nose also begin to fulfill their roll, making the beer continue with a slight bitterness. There is an undeniable sweetness that also kicks in around this point, which helps transition into a clean, estery/fruity finish. The aftertaste is spicy and orangey but, mostly, is an expertly melded model of the strongest components of the flavor profile. The beer is medium bodied and warming, with a slight syrupy feel that nicely coats. There is huge carbonation throughout, but it tends to cool down by the end. The abv is high but appropriate, making the sipping a bit slow, per usual.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was how well the beer is blended. With such complex, and strong, competing flavors, it can be hard to find a nice balance. This, however, is not the case here. We are left with a final product that is immeasurably clean and delicate, with inseparable undertones which are robust and delicious.

Tripel Karmeliet pours an interesting gold-amber-ish color. Carbonation is very active and yields a huge, vanilla colored head. It's easily four fingers in depth. It holds up very well. The beer beneath will likely disappear before the head. Lacing looks to be moderate.

The nose might be the standard for a Belgian Tripel. It kicks off with a strong, spicy Belgian yeast scent. It predominates the nose throughout, and is nothing short of beautiful. The spicy side features clove and pepper. It's a little fruity. Apple and pear are in the mix, but are secondary elements. There are some earthy and grainy notes throughout, but they're subtle. Alcohol is there, but doesn't seem all that strong. Nothing short of excellent!

The flavor is likewise impressive. This is a fantastic example of an authentic Belgian Tripel. The driving force behind its tremendous flavor is the spicy Belgian yeast. Its presence is very strong throughout, and is delicious! Let there be no doubt about that. It is spicy, and has a prominent clove and pepper flavor. It's complemented by a flavorful mix of apple and pear. Earthy and grainy notes round it out. Alcohol is a little noticeable, but is masked well overall. It finishes with a spicy, Belgian yeast flavor.

The body is best described as medium. While the carbonation is active, the bubbles feel light. It feels incredibly svelte and smooth. There's no questioning its true Belgian quality. Drinkability is very high. Yeah, it might be a little strong, but it's damn delicious. This 750 is disappearing too quickly.

I've had Tripel Karmeliet several times, and it's been delicious each and every one of them. I don't know if it's the world's best Tripel, but it's a great example. There's really not any criticism to constructively dole out. Nothing needs to be changed. If you're looking for a great Tripel, look no further. This is definitely one of the best!

Bottle (I think $3ish at Flair Beverage) into a Duvel glass. I'm going to get a Karmeliet gift pack with the glass next week, because that glass is terrific.

A: The beer pours a hazy golden with a half-inch white head that retains and leaves splotchy lacing.

S: Very nice. Grainy, almost wheat-like aroma, with Belgian yeast, spice, some banana and a cotton candy sweetness.

T/M: Lots of spices going on. A pleasant fruitiness, especially as it warms, with some of the straw from the aroma. Not a trace of booze. Definitely let this one warm up a bit. Finish is light sugary sweetness. The carbonation is medium but fairly prickly.

D: Goes down very smoothly. This isn't my favorite tripel on the planet, but it's a damn good one.

A: Quite carbonated, enormous even head with tiny bubbles. Carbonation rising equally from every point of the bottom of the glass. That's unusual and tantalizing. Light, slightly dull, yellowy gold. Beautiful even head with amazing retention.

T: Not so witbier like. Alcohol surprisingly masked (given the ABV) and only apparent in aftertaste. Even then it's far on the pleasant side. Somewhat tart, and the aftertaste hogs most of the flavor. Daisies (some kind of sweet flower). Definitely good, but disappointing compared to it's appearance and smell. Somewhere between 3.5 and 4.

50th Review on BABottle to Tulip12 oz.- Served at Lucky Devils in Hollywood, CA

App- Straw yellow with a giant pillow of head due to the server not pouring correctly. Wasn't the worst pour I've seen but a 4 finger head was a bit much. The color and bubbles brings the 4 on the rating.

Smell- The nose picks up some hay/straw characteristics and then a light citrus note and lastly the belgian yeast comes in.

Taste- It drinks very small for an 8.4 It was very mellow and smooth and paired well with the Kobe burger I was having. I picked up a slight bready malt quality to it on the aftertaste.

Mouth- Very robust yeast strain that fills the mouth with flavor yet is subtle in areas and very well balanced.

Drink- It's a very nice beer. Will def. have to find a bomber somewhere of this quality beer.

believe it or not i had not had this one before this night. i decided to go out with a bang and ordered up a glass of this one to round out the night. served chilled and poured into a glass on 11/07/2010.

really not the pour i was expecting, for some reason i thought it would be much darker, but the light golden hue of it had a nice cloudiness to it that seemed to come through nicely with a bit of lacing around the sides.

aroma is light bready notes and hints of banana, cloves, pears, light tart apples and a touch of spice on the edges. clean, very clean flavor that it is very hard to find really any fault here in that. super clean with light body and a nice medium palate with hints of grain and light fruits that seem to dance all over the place. light bears and nice touches of fruit and light spice. smooth, clean finish and absent abv lead to just a great mix of flavor and drinkablility.

overall it deserved all that it deserves, really a great and light an highly drinkable beer.

T - Sweet pale malts and candi sugar with banana notes. Interesting. No where near as good as the bottled version. Sweet and lacking the great nuances the bottle has.

M - Smooth and soft with a light finish and a touch of alcohol.

D - Decent drinakbility but either it's a way old keg, the tap lines need some cleaning, or it's just not the same as the bottle. Possible pour sanitation in the line I feel, but my friend likes it more than the bottle and stands by his pour. Hmm.

I had this at home on a Friday evening with dinner, and then a second after dinner. It pours a bright golden. Not much head on the first pour, but more on the second bottle which was poured a little more vigorously. Essentially no lacing on the glass.

Smells of lemon and then honey, with the honey being the stronger of the two. Taste if very good, with just a hint of sweetness following the mildly spicy start.

Feels very good in the mouth, letting you know you had something with more feel than water, but doesn't linger very long. Very nice.

From the web: his beer was left in my fridge by a visitor at my house. Much appreciative of the beery generosity.

Flavor is intense and complex. Lot of spices, some rye bread, some tangy heffeweizen-like goodness. Fairly dry at first with a sweet lingering aftertaste. Grapefruits and lemons and a little bit of copper. High alcohol content but you don't really feel it.

Second go at this beer, and still just as tasty as the first run...The only difference is the size of the bottle. First crack was a 16oz. bottle This run is a 1pt. 9.4 oz. Still same characteristics, just more to enjoy.

Visually this beer pours a smooth bright golden, with a hint of white clouds painted though the sky. Delicate bubbles rise from the base of the glass in a steady uniformed trail. A smooth white head just shy of an inch thick.

T: Thick spicy earthy malts up front, through the middle of the beer it is really sweet from the sugar. I don't really notice any strong hops (a little bitterness in the background), the end of the beer is mostly sweet bready malts.

M: Thick mouthfeel with great bubbly carbonation. This adds to the spiciness of the beers flavours.

Flavor is intense and complex. Lot of spices, some rye bread, some tangy heffeweizen-like goodness. Fairly dry at first with a sweet lingering aftertaste. Grapefruits and lemons and a little bit of copper. High alcohol content but you don't really feel it.

Prickly but full mouthfeel.

Interesting beer. Seems like a spicier and sweeter version of the Chimay White. I like it a lot. 2nd best Tripel I've had (next to of course Chimay White)

Pours blonde in the glass with a fair size head that dissipates pretty quickly.

Carbonation is very high in this beer. Taste is interesting for a tripel, it actually takes some tastes from a wit. The primary taste on the body of the beer is an orange character with some peppery spices mixed in. Yeastiness is present as well, coming through near the finish. A light smattering of hops on the finish is there as well. Very dry finish as well...almost nothing lingering except a little orange. Alcohol is hidden very well.

It's a bit of a different take on a tripel as far as the flavors are concerned. I'm a fan of it though. They work very well, and this was incredibly easy to drink.

A clear light yellow with a giant, billowing white head, three fingers thick. Moderate lacing is present as well. The nose is pretty intense. Fruity with pears and apples, there's also a little lemon peel early on. Firmly hoppy with some floral and earthy character, probably Styrian Goldings? A moderate sugary sweetness is present.

The palate opens with a pretty big fruity sweetness, pears and peaches being right in the forefront, along with a melange of light fruits. Cotton candy, a little citrus, some floral character and a little honey. Despite the sweetness, this is very light on the palate, crisply carbonated and rather refreshing. Some crystallized ginger is present too. The finish is rather spectacular. Long lasting with flavors of light fruits, a light hoppiness and a little sweetness. The only detraction is that there's a light splenda-like sweetness present. Excellent stuff, this is one of the better tripels there is.

A: Pours a nearly clear golden/orange color. At first a large two finger white head forms, but recedes in a second. Light lace is left behind.S: The nose is awesome. Passion fruits strong and up front. Distinct pineapple, melon, and pear. A light soapy aroma, but that does not detract at all for me. Some yeast and sweet malt linger. Exceptionally balanced and nuanced.T: The flavor does not disappoint. A huge passion fruit flavor that follows the nose. Pineapple and cantaloupe that make the mouth water. Spicy and peppery yeast with a dry touch. Finishes sweet for a good balance.M/D: A light to medium body with perfect carbonation. Incredibly crisp and dry. So easy to drink. More than a sipper, and all day with this one.

Hands down the best Tripel I have had. Just a wonderful beer, and maybe the best example of the style. This is a must try.

A: Pours a lager looking golden with a huge bright white billowing head that slowly faded into thick film that a network of lacing down the glass. S: Lighter smelling than expected. Light notes of wheat and spices including clove, coriander and pepper. Some fruity esters of apples and golden pears come through as well. T: The three grains dominate the taste but the finish is full of sweet and spicy fruits. Very complex flavors with a light vapor of alcohol. Crackery and lemony. Aftertaste is dryish and sweet. M: Smooth clean flavor with soft even carbonation. Medium mouthfeel.D: Lighter than most tripels and wonderfully easy to drink. Very balanced and easy to sip on. Not my favorite, but a great example of the style.

Watching the Giants on a nice sunny Fall day...Nice beer to enjoy with it...Pours a pale amber with a finger of soapy head. Only the slightest haze to the color...Lacing is sparse and the beer is well carbonated. Some spicy aromas amdist the Belgian yeastiness - maybe some cinnamon, maybe a little hint of clove. Also some Golden Delicious apple in there - a ripe one. Flavor is very spritzy upfront. The carbonation is very apparent. After this effervescent burst, it morphs into a nice golden ale flavor. Some strong yeast characteristics along with some alcohol (8.4% ABV), but neither really overpowers. A very well-balanced beer. The spicy characteristics, so evident in the nose, don't really appear until near the late middle and finish of the drink. They are there, but understated, in a good way. Finish is long and very yeasty and actually carries some of the apple flavor (along with a touch of alcohol, making it a tad bitter in a bad way). This is excellent, yet expensive at $4.69/11.2oz. bottle. Npt quite an elite ale, but very good.

It was a dark golden-yellow. To me, this wasnt a beer, but more like a sweet wine wine. It did not taste like a tripel at all. Great stuff, one the best beers I've had to date. I can drink this all night.